Požadovaný rozpočet: 1 449 777,19 EUR

ANTARES strengthens Europe’s strategic position in space technologies by demonstrating how large antennas with apertures above 5 metres can be manufactured and assembled directly in orbit using modular building blocks. Current antenna technologies face high costs, complex logistics and limited sustainability. The project therefore demonstrates, at TRL 4, that large apertures can be designed for in orbit assembly and reconfiguration by combining elements launched from Earth with components recovered from existing satellites. This approach is supported by the development of lower cost materials and advanced manufacturing techniques that accelerate and reduce the cost of producing modular elements before they are launched and stored in orbital depots. The concept enables rapid integration of large antennas in space in response to immediate needs, fully aligned with the vision of “responsive space”. ANTARES shifts the paradigm from “design for deployment” to “design from building blocks”, enabling faster delivery, higher reliability and improved sustainability. The project focuses on three core areas: developing cost efficient ground manufacturing techniques, validating methods for extracting and repurposing components from defunct satellites and designing and simulating a reconfigurable large antenna that incorporates these manufacturing and recycling capabilities. This approach paves the way for a new generation of large European antennas that can be rapidly assembled, adapted and maintained directly in orbit.

Žadatel: Large Space Structures GmbH